The McDermott Laboratory aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of hair-cell development and operation and to determine how these mechanisms relate to human hearing and deafness. We are predominately focused on determining the developmental and functional mechanisms of two regions of the hair cell—the mechanosensitive hair bundle and the synaptic ribbon. 

People

Congratulations!

(April, 2020)

• Kevin Chen, for his new position at Janelia/HHMI.

• Hannah Weaver, for her acceptance to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

(September, 2017)

• Kevin Chen and Sara Zhu passed their qualifying exams for Ph.D.'s in Biology.

• Ahlam Salameh, for her NIH grant "Understanding the Role of Actin-bundling Protein Supervillin in the Development and the Function of the Cuticular Plate of the Mechanosensory Hair Cells in Zebrafish" funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

Newest Publications

Pollock LM, Gupta N, Chen X, Luna EJ, McDermott BM Jr. (2016) Supervillin Is a Component of the Hair Cell's Cuticular Plate and the Head Plates of Organ of Corti Supporting Cells. PLoS One.         10.1371/journal.pone.0158349.

Pollock LM, Chou SW, McDermott BM Jr. (2016) My oh my(osin): Insights into how auditory hair cells count, measure, and shape. J Cell Biol. 10.1083/jcb.201512086.

Hwang P, Chou SW, Chen Z, McDermott BM Jr. (2015) The Stereociliary Paracrystal Is a Dynamic Cytoskeletal Scaffold In Vivo. Cell Rep. 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.10.003.

CONTACT

McDermott Laboratory

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

11100 Euclid Ave., Mail Stop 5045

Wearn Bldg., Room 452

Cleveland, OH 44106